City of Saskatoon, province discuss expanding photo radar

Phil Tank, Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Updated: June 13, 2018

The City of Saskatoon is talking to the provincial government about expanding the use of photo radar in the city, according to a document presented at Monday's meeting of council's transportation committee.Greg Pender / The StarPhoenix

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark says it’s too early to tell what a possible expansion of photo radar in the city might look like.

A city document presented at Monday’s transportation committee revealed the City of Saskatoon and SGI are talking about the possibility of expanded photo radar.

Clark said he’s open to discussions about photo radar expansion, but that any new locations need to be based on evidence. In his opinion, any new photo radar locations would focus on additional school zones first, he said.

“I can’t see us tripling or quadrupling the number of cameras we have out there,” Clark said in an interview on Tuesday.

Clark pointed to the red-light cameras installed at four intersections deemed to be dangerous. The use of red-light cameras has not expanded dramatically since the first one was installed in 2005, he said.

Clark supported the SGI pilot project that involved placing cameras in school zones and along Circle Drive to reduce speeding.

“From what we’ve seen, it has had an impact on speeding in those areas,” Clark said. “There’s certainly more discussion that can happen.”

Any expansion would also involve discussions with the other two cities that participated in the SGI pilot project, Regina and Moose Jaw, he added.

According to Jay Magus, the city’s manager of transportation engineering, expanding the photo radar program would require a legislative change and the city is not aware of any such change.

A provincial government spokesman sent the following prepared statement:

“The Government is currently reviewing options when it comes to the future of PSE (photo speed enforcement), but no final decision about a change to the program has made at this time. As part of the review of the PSE program, the government and SGI have consulted with municipalities and other stakeholders.”

Clark noted there are concerns about speeding at various locations in Saskatoon.

City Park resident Raj Randhawa appeared before council’s transportation committee on Monday to ask for measures to combat speeding along Spadina Crescent.

Among a dozen measures he suggested in a written proposal is to install photo radar cameras. The city’s response says city hall is talking to the province about the potential to expand photo radar in the city.

Coun. Troy Davies, who alone voted against Saskatoon’s participation in the photo radar experiment, said he now backs expansion.

“I’m converted,” Davies said in a text message. “I support it.”

Other councillors said they would like more information before passing judgment.

“I’m interested in seeing the final report on the pilot to judge the outcome of the program,” Coun. Zach Jeffries said in a text message. “(Automated speed enforcement) needs to be about improving public safety and not about a cash grab.”

Jeffries fought to introduce a pilot project to test speed humps at various locations in the city to try to reduce vehicle speeds.

Coun. Hilary Gough and Coun. Cynthia Block said they want updated information before offering an opinion.

SGI introduced photo radar, which actually uses lasers and not radar, to Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw in March 2015.

In Saskatoon, the cameras have rotated through five locations along Circle Drive and in five elementary school zones.

The two-year pilot project cost $4.5 million and was extended indefinitely after the program ended in March of 2017. It’s estimated to cost about $2.4 million a year to run the program.

The City of Saskatoon received more than $450,000 in both 2015 and 2016 from photo radar revenues to spend on traffic safety initiatives. Fines for speeding start at $100 in locations like Circle Drive and at $170 in school zones.

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